The Book of Hibernation

Winter Ji fell into a drowsy sleep, and suddenly felt a heaviness in his chest, an itchy face, and his breathing was somewhat obstructed.

Most of his consciousness was still in a dream, and he thought he had bumped into a vine while walking.So he turned his head and pushed the plants around him with both hands, but he couldn't push them away, and the vines entangled him like snakes.He raised his head, wanting to breathe fresh air, he saw sunlight falling from the gaps in the branches and leaves of the trees, and a spot of light hit his eyes.

He closed his eyes for a moment, opened them again, and was surprised to see Aldin in front of him.

This is not a dream.He just woke up and Aldin was really in front of him.

Aldin sat on the edge of the bed.Seeing Dongji woke up, he lowered his head and kissed Dongji's forehead again.Dong Ji stared at him blankly, not moving at all.

"What's the matter? Are you awake or are you sleeping with your eyes open?" Aldin asked.

Winter Ji looked around, he was still in the confinement room of the academy. "Master Aldin? Why are you here..."

Aldin smiled and said, "It seems that he is awake."

After speaking, he didn't immediately explain why he was here, but lowered his head and kissed her again.His hand brushed over Winter Thistle's forehead, and his fingers combed through the messy soft hair, down to the root of the hair, to the nape of the half-elf's neck.

He didn't end the kiss until he felt Winter Thistle's skin was heating up and his heartbeat was getting more and more chaotic.He propped up his body and watched Dong Ji slowly open his eyes, his eyes were even more blurred than when he woke up from a dream just now.

Aldin helped Winter Thistle to sit up slowly, then held his cheek with both hands, and kissed the top of his hair.Probably because it has been a long time since we saw each other, Aldin can't wait to hold him in his arms and not let go.

Winter Thistle found Aldine wearing a double-faced cloak, carrying a weapon, and wearing a leather coat and velvet shirt.Looks like it's getting cooler outside now.Winter thistles are out of the sun here, barely aware of the changing seasons.

Aldin continued stroking the half-elf's hair, and said softly, "It's late at night. I'm here to take you back."

Winter Thistle nodded, her expression a little sluggish.

Aldin came to pick him up, and he can leave the confinement room of the academy. It is estimated that all the turmoil in Harbor City has subsided... This should be a good thing, but Winter Thistle is not happy, only slightly surprised——surprised that he is not at all Not excited.

Even when he opened his eyes and saw Aldin, he was just surprised.Reunited after a long absence, he should be happy.

He was very sure that his mind was still in chaos, without any bright colors.

Winter Thistle couldn't tell why.He didn't think much about it for the time being, just silently put on his coat and put on the thick cloak Aldin brought him.

Aldin asked him to just change his clothes, instead of taking books and changing clothes. Someone will be responsible for packing up these things in the future and sending them back one after another.No matter what Aldin said, Dongji just nodded and followed suit, with a dazed expression all the time, and Aldin didn't ask any further questions, just pretending that he was still asleep.

Before going out, Aldin looked down at Winter Thistle's shoes, and found that they were a pair of thin indoor shoes with shallow uppers and padded soles, which should have been given to him by other mages in the academy.These shoes are suitable for walking slowly in the library, not for walking outside.

Aldin pouted, and simply hugged Winter Thistle.

Walking out of the confinement room, there is a long and empty dark corridor outside, and the other rooms on both sides are dark and uninhabited.

At the end of the long corridor, there was only a hooded mage standing guard with a lamp. When Aldin and Winter Thistle came out, he turned and led the way without saying a word.

The three left the building quietly, and the mage extinguished the lantern.They walked through the garden and walked around to the warehouse area of ​​the college. There was a side door here, which was far away from the activity area of ​​teachers and students, and relatively close to the workshop town. It was usually used for the entry and exit of wagons.

Before leaving, Aldin nodded to the mage leading the way, and the mage bowed in return, turned and left.

After going out, they walked for a short distance, and finally saw the carriage waiting by the road.After getting into the carriage, Aldin still held Winter Thistle in his arms.Winter Thistle closed his eyes, and Aldin pretended that he had fallen asleep and didn't say anything to disturb him.

Of course Winter Thistle was not asleep.He had a strange feeling in his heart, not sad, but also not happy, in short, he didn't want to speak.

The carriage did not pass through the workshop town, but took a long detour.After traveling for a certain distance, Winter Thistle noticed that the sound of horses' hooves outside increased, and more riders began to accompany them.

Since Aldin didn't respond, the people outside must be his subordinates.These people stayed at a distance and stayed away from the academy, probably wanting to keep a low profile and quietness as much as possible.

Dong Ji guessed that he might still be suspected of dealing with necromancers, and still be a dangerous person with a stigma.The Austrian Federation did not officially release him.

Aldin should have reached a private agreement with all parties to take him away quietly.

For the sake of the face of all parties, a stigmatized mage like Dong Ji cannot walk out of the main entrance of the academy.

After thinking about it, sleepiness struck again, and Dongji finally gradually fell asleep.

Although there were many worries in his heart, when he leaned on Aldin's shoulder, the familiar sense of security surged up, which was really drowsy.

====================

At dawn, Aldin's carriage stopped outside a post station.A group of people are going to rest here for a morning, have lunch, and then set off in the afternoon.

This morning, Aldin was catching up on sleep in the guest room, but Dong Ji had been awake the whole time since arriving at the inn.He lived with Aldin, and outside the room were guarded two warriors in leather armor. As soon as Winter Thistle opened the door, the two told him not to leave the room, it was Aldin's order.

Aldin was fast asleep, and Winter Thistle didn't want to wake him up just for this.

In fact, Dong Ji didn't want to go anywhere at first, he was just curious to see outside.

At lunch time, Aldin finally woke up, and Winter Thistle was sitting on the sidelines reading a book.This was the only book he carried with him. He hadn't finished reading it last night, so he couldn't bear to leave it behind.

Winter Thistle didn't ask "Why can't I go out".He didn't forget, but he didn't feel the need to ask.

After lunch, they took a rest and got into the carriage again.Winter Thistle was very silent all the time, and didn't say a few words in total.

If Aldine talks to him, he responds normally, and when Aldine kisses him, he closes his eyes, but he hardly initiates the conversation.

Winter Ji always felt like a layer of fog was covering her head, it had been like this since last night, and it didn't get any better now.This morning he said he was reading a book, but he didn't actually read a few pages.

When he was locked in the confinement room underground of the academy, although he was depressed, his thinking was not so sluggish.Now that he was brought out, he was about to return to Harbor City, and was about to continue his life as a refiner, but instead he began to feel very confused.

Aldin came to fetch him, but something was different.

Winter Thistle clearly felt that something was different.

During the afternoon's journey, Aldin told Winter Thistle about the current situation in Harbor City.In fact, Winter Thistle already knew these things.Kanai's teacher chats with him every day and tells him everything he hears.

However, there are also some things that Dongji really wants to know, but she still doesn't know.

He really wanted to ask Aldin: If Kanai did not betray, you deliberately misled Wu Yun and other enemies, then why did you lie to me not only to the outside world?

In the courtroom, why do you say things like "they're just trying him, not trying to kill him"?Is it just to mislead the enemy, or do you really think so?

Also, why did Kanai suddenly transfer the management authority of the underground market to me?Is it specifically to deal with the inspection of the Austrian Law Federation?

The temple has already caught Wu Yun and solved the necromancer's matter, why am I still being imprisoned like a prisoner?What kind of person am I now?

Also, what happened to those mercenaries who were almost poisoned to death?Have you regained your freedom?

What happened to Eileen Tal?Did the temple hunt her down?

I've asked more or less about these things in my letters...why didn't you answer any of them?

These questions did not come to Dong Ji's mind at this very moment.

He didn't keep them in his heart, he had already tried to ask some through letters.

During the days of being locked in the confinement room of the academy, there were more than one or two letters between Winter Thistle and Aldin.He asked many things in the letter, some of them were very direct, and some of them were insincere. He was careful with his words for fear of appearing aggressive... No matter what he asked, Aldin never answered directly.

Aldean will write back.In his reply letters, he asked about his health, often wrote some interesting things to make Dongji happy, and told his thoughts many times... But he never answered Dongji's questions.

The reunion should have been a happy one, but Winter Thistle has been very silent.

Now that he had the opportunity to ask in person, he couldn't open his mouth.

In fact, Winter Ji can not ask anything, forget about those messy things, and return to the life he likes naturally.

The life of a refiner is very simple. Apart from worrying about work, there is no need to think about other things.It's better and easier this way.

Do you want to do this?Winter thistle really can't decide.

=========================

The return journey was not arranged in a hurry, focusing on comfort, and the speed of travel slowed down a lot.On the way, they stayed at a post station again, and after setting off again, they walked for half a day, and the carriage and riders finally arrived at the outskirts of Harbor City.

This road into the city happened to pass near the almshouse.Aldin purposely opened the curtains of the carriage, and showed Winter Thistle the current almshouse.

The almshouse had been restored to its former appearance, and the people who walked around with weapons in the previous days were gone.The former site of the empty courtyard is very quiet, and the guard is still hiding in the shadow of the stone castle gate as before.

It was daytime now, and there were a few women on the main road walking slowly towards the poorhouse. They looked like widows who were working in the poorhouse.They carried paper parcels and straw baskets on their backs, and they should have just returned from shopping.

Aldean said the city hall allocated another sum of money to the poorhouse to comfort the frightened elderly and orphans.The underground market has not been affected too much. Most of the traveling merchants who went to avoid the limelight have returned. Some mages are now living in the slums of Nanyu Port.

"In the future, you will continue to be the manager of the market," Aldin told Winter Thistle, "it will be the same as before. You don't really need to take care of anything, just discuss with me if you have any questions."

Winter Thistle asked: "The matter is over, don't you need to return the authority to Kanai?"

Aldin said, "No. He really doesn't care about that in the future."

As the evening approached, they finally returned to Harbor City.Aldine closed the carriage curtains.There is a metal bar hanging under the curtain, which cannot be lifted even in the wind.

In the past, when Winter Thistle returned from a trip in a carriage, he always got off the carriage in front of the gate.If the coachman didn't go through the main entrance, he would drive the cart to another road, enter through the side door of the mansion, and go straight back to the stables.But this time when he came back, Aldin ordered the coachman to go directly to the gate and drive the car into the courtyard.

Judging from all the signs, it was obvious that Aldin didn't want Winter Thistle to be seen by others.Thinking of this, Dong Ji felt a little unhappy.

The coachman opened the door of the carriage, and Aldin got out of the carriage first, and then reached out to support Winter Thistle.Winter Thistle came out and stood in the familiar courtyard again.When he saw the corridor of vines, the unhappiness in his heart almost dissipated—walk through the corridor, turn a few more turns, walk through the path on the left side of the banquet hall, and pass through the garden in the middle , you can see the laboratory he used.

He has always been thinking about the laboratory and the progress of the workshop in the suburbs.For a brief moment, he almost forgot all his previous doubts, and a voice in his heart told him: It's good to be back in front of these things, your life is as usual, some things just don't return You don't care, you shouldn't bother with them...

Aldin walked behind Winter Thistle, supported his shoulders with both hands, and kissed his hair lightly: "Okay, we're home. Eat something later, and then go to bed early."

Winter Thistle looked back at him.That is, at the moment when the two looked at each other, the things that had just dissipated in Dong Ji's heart gradually returned.

Winter Thistle realizes wearily that he can't really make things work.

As long as he looked at Aldin, he remembered all the past experiences, all the questions he had not been answered.

Winter Thistle hesitated for a while, and first chose the simplest question that would most likely not be avoided: "How is Kanai? I heard he was seriously injured before."

Aldin said: "He hurt a bone, it's really serious. His spirit has been much better recently, if you want, you can go and see him tomorrow."

"tomorrow?"

"He's not at home today. He's gone to talk with Deris. Do you remember who Deris is?"

Winter Thistle nodded.He was quite impressed with the red-haired half-elf. On the one hand, she was of the same blood as him, and on the other hand, he was really impressed by the dinner that led Ryan to rush out.

When I see Kanai in the future, Winter Thistle really wants to have a private chat with Kanai.He can also ask Kanai about some things, maybe Kanai will answer.

Winter Ji quietly imagined that if he was talking face-to-face with Kanai, he might dare to directly ask the questions in his heart.

If Kanai doesn't answer him, he doesn't seem to be afraid of anything, just apologize and leave quickly.

Obviously Aldin's attitude is gentler and closer to him, but it is more difficult for him to express himself frankly when facing Aldin...

why is that?Winter Thistle couldn't explain it for a while, and didn't know where to get the answer.

Next, Aldin and Winter Thistle returned to their residences, changed out of the clothes they had worn outside, and washed up briefly.

During this time, the servants prepared dinner.After a tiring journey, people have no appetite, so Aldin ordered them to make some simple and refreshing things, put them in a portable rattan basket, and send them to Aldin's room.

Then Aldin took the food to Winter Thistle's residence and knocked on Winter Thistle's door.

When Winter Thistle opened the door, she was wrapped in a robe she had just changed into, her hair was wet, the water slid down her cheeks, and her wet hair was tangled around her unique ear tips of elf blood.

Aldin asked him why he was in such a hurry to wash his hair, and Winter Thistle said that it was very inconvenient in the confinement room of the academy, and it took many days for someone to bring in a large bucket of warm water.It was fortunate that there was an old mage who was willing to take care of him, otherwise, after such a long time, he would have been dirty into a mess long ago.

Winter Thistle turned and walked into the house while talking, Aldin followed behind him, put down the rattan basket, fetched a towel first, pulled Winter Thistle in front of him, and wiped the water drops from his hair.

At first, Aldin covered Winter Thistle's head with a towel, and rubbed it back and forth for a while on purpose like rubbing a small animal.

Winter Thistle subconsciously wanted to hide, but could only stand still. Aldin snickered, first kissed his forehead through the towel, then lifted the handkerchief, and put it behind Winter Thistle's head, revealing Winter Thistle's Faces and tangled wet hair.

Aldin no longer rubbed it randomly like before, but pinched the winter thistle's hair strand by strand, and wiped the remaining water stains on it carefully.

Winter Thistle was as shy as ever.That's all, he lowered his head and looked away.

"Winter Thistle," Aldin put his finger on the half-elf's chin, causing him to raise his head slightly, "I made you suffer a while ago. I'm sorry."

Winter Thistle made no answer.

He neither complained further nor said politely "I don't mind".